[EricH]

Originally Posted by Billfred

-Stephen Kowski pointed this one out to me: don't ask "What Would Beatty Do?", ask "What Would BeachBots Do?". Look at 330 the past four seasons. Together, those robots have won one four regionals (and finalist at two more), Curie in 2007, IRI in 2008, and the whole enchilada in 2005. They're all dead simple; single joints for everything but 2006 (when an arm wasn't really an option). Build it as simple as possible, then refine that design as best you can. More time, shorter letter.

And guess who has just about the resources you do? Yep, Team 330. Except it's a borrowed chopsaw instead of a bandsaw. The main thing you might want would be a welder, but that's negotiable. (It makes the robot look cooler, but you don't need it.) A machinist mainly does the absolute, 100% "it must be there and nowhere else" holes.

As to materials, 330's arm material of choice tends to be PVC or aluminum, depending on the year. (Fiberglass also works--2007.) Everything else is aluminum, but trannies are purchased or KOP. Steel only shows up in sprockets or in trannies.

Oh, and Billfred--you forgot a finalist at IRI 2005.